Courtney's SandCastle Playground Still $200,000 from Goal

The group raising money to build the second phase of Courtney’s SandCastle, a playground at the new sports park accessible to disabled and able-bodied children, is $200,000 away from its goal.

With $100,000 in the bank, the group is working on securing grants, said fundraising organizer Don Glasgow.

In addition to businesses and organizations in town, such as the , fundraisers for Courtney’s SandCastle .

Phase I of the project was paid for by the city and rolled into the construction of the new La Pata-Vista Hermosa sports park. That phase included play structures, including a giant outdoor xylophone and a sandbox, Glasgow said.

Phase II will include water attractions and a “sensory garden,” with all sorts of different plants and features.

“In the sensory garden, they can see, smell and feel,” Glasgow said. “A child who is sightless or blind—it means a lot to them.”

Phase II will also include a floating-ball fountain, that is, a fountain composed of a large granite ball with water flowing over it that children can touch.

Another fountain will include different buttons and switches that activate different patterns of spray.

An artificial tide pool under a large shade structure will house replica tide pool flora and fauna, and the kids will be able to hit switches that will control the water levels.